Portable infant crib



Dec. 16, 1941. p WAKEFIELD 2,266,681

PORTABLE INFANT CRIB Filed July 51, 1940 IN VENTOR. GEORGE P WA hEF/E'LD ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATE s* PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE CRIB George P. Wakefield, Vermilion, Ohio Application July 31, 1940, Serial No. 348,887

v 2 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to a portable infants crib.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a crib of the character described, which is extremely light in weight, and can therefore be transported from. one place to another with minimum effort.

Another ob-ject of the invention is to provide a crib of the character described which can be disposed on a standard bed, and which, when so disposed, can be occupied by an infant without danger of the infant rolling off the bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crib of the character described, which is of such construction as to obviate any possibility of the infant injuring itself within the crib, or as a result of movements against the sides of the crib.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crib of the character described which may be laid directly on the floor of a room and used either for sleeping purposes or as a play pen.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a crib of the character described which may be folded to facilitate transportation thereof, and when thus folded, may be used to carry various articles required for infant care.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the elements hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed elements constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view, showing the manner in which the portable infants crib is adapted to be used;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the crib in folded or collapsed condition, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, and showing the detailed construction of the crib.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the crib will be seen to comprise a pair of U- shaped frame members I and 2, the arms of which are pivotally secured together at their edges, as by means of butt hinges 3, whereby said frame members may be folded, one upon the other, as shown in Fig. 2. These frame members are preferably made of wood, for lightness, and, in order to reduce their weight to a minimum, portions thereof are removed to provide recesses 4. These recesses are also of considerable advantage'in that they provide leg room when thecrib is in folded condition, as in Fig. 2, and is being carried. This is particularly desirable where the frame members I and 2 are of considerable depthh These frame members form a support for a substantially rectangular sheet 5 of rubber, rubberized fabric or other suitable waterproof material, the sheet being folded at its edges to provide a portion 6 which overlies the upper edges of the frame members, a portion 1 which is disposed adjacent the sides of the frame members, and hem portions 6a and To which serve to reinforce their respective portions of the sheet.

The portions 1 and la of the sheet are maintained in position by means of wooden strips 8, which, in turn, are secured to the frame members by means of nails or other suitable fastening devices 9.

For the purpose of providing a slight cushioning effect below the sheet at the upper edges of the frame members and on the inner faces of the latter, a strip [0 of soft fabric, such as flannel, felt or the like is secured to the frame members by means of tacks I I.

The sheet 5 hangs more or less loosely within the frame members, and is of such size that when the frame members I and 2 lie on a standard bed B (Fig. 1), a substantial portion of the sheet lies directly on the bed, and no strain is placed on the fastening devices 9 by the movements of an infant which has been placed on the sheet. Moreover, the frame members I and 2 are sulficiently high to avoid any possibility of an infant rolling off the sheet or falling ofi the bed. Should the infant move about to such an extent, as to strike its head, feet or arms against the frame members, no appreciable injury is likely to result, due to the absence of nails or other metallic fastening devices along the upper edges of the crib and also the provision of the cushioning material.

If desired, the crib may be laid on the carpeting in a living room or other room, and the crib used in such location either for sleeping purposes or as a play pen, the waterproof character of the sheet 5 preventing soiling of the carpeting.

When not in use, the crib is adapted to be folded in the manner shown in Fig. 2, either for storage or transportation purposes.

To facilitate carrying the crib when thus folded, a strap handle I2 is secured to one of the frame members, and a trunk latch I3 is also structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims-0r the 15 equivalent of such stated means be employed. I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An infants crib adapted to rest on a relatively fiat supporting surface, comprising a pair ofsubstanti'all-y u shaped frames of substantial height pivotally secured': to eachother and resting directly on said surface, said frames forming an open-ended box-likestructure, a sheet of waterproof fabric secured to the exterior of said frame and extending across the frame to close one end of the box-like structure, saidsheet directly engaging the said supporting surface substantially throughout the enclosed area, whereby the weight of the infant is supported by said surface and the waterproof sheet is relieved of strain.

2. An infants crib adapted to rest on a relatively flat supporting surface, comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped frames of substantial height pivotally secured to each other and resting directly on said surface, said frames forming an open ended box-like structure, a strip of cushioning material secured to. the inner walls of the frame and extending over the upper edge thereof, means for securing said material to the frame, a sheet of waterproof fabric secured to the exterior of said frame and extending across the frame'to close one end of the box-like structure, said sheet being festooned between the frame members and normally spaced from said securing means to prevent contact of the infant therewith, the sheet being of such size as to depend. from the frame to a point substantially flush with the bottom edge of the frame whereby said sheet directly engages the supporting surface substantially throughout the enclosed area and is supported thereby so that the waterproof sheet is relieved of strain in supporting the infant.

GEORGE P. WAKEFIELD; 

